Diego Capel
Capel warming up for Sporting CP in 2012
Personal information
Full name Diego Ángel Capel Trinidad[1]
Date of birth (1988-02-16) 16 February 1988 (age 35)[1]
Place of birth Albox, Spain[1]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
1998–2000 Olula CF
2000 Barcelona
2001–2002 Olula CF
2002–2003 CD Oriente[2]
2003–2004 Sevilla
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Sevilla B 84 (7)
2004–2011 Sevilla 126 (6)
2011–2015 Sporting CP 99 (10)
2015–2016 Genoa 21 (0)
2016–2017 Anderlecht 15 (1)
2018–2019 Extremadura 14 (0)
2020 Birkirkara 2 (1)
2022 Irodotos 11 (0)
Total 372 (25)
International career
2004 Spain U16 3 (0)
2004–2005 Spain U17 14 (2)
2006–2007 Spain U19 12 (0)
2007 Spain U20 6 (2)
2007–2011 Spain U21 25 (5)
2012 Spain U23 1 (0)
2008 Spain 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Diego Ángel Capel Trinidad (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo kaˈpel]; born 16 February 1988) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a left winger.

He made his senior debut with Sevilla at 16, going on to appear in 173 competitive matches for the club over seven La Liga seasons (12 goals) and win four major trophies, including two UEFA Cups.[3] In 2011, he signed for Sporting CP, totalling 142 games and winning the 2014–15 Taça de Portugal; subsequently, he had a nomadic career.

Capel earned 60 caps for Spain across all youth categories, representing the under-21s in two European Championships. He made his full debut in 2008.

Club career

Sevilla

Groomed in Sevilla FC's youth system (after a brief spell at FC Barcelona),[4][5] Capel was born in Albox, Province of Almería, and he made his first professional appearance aged only 16, playing three minutes in a 2–1 home win against Atlético Madrid on 24 October 2004.[6] In the following seasons he would alternate between the A and B teams, playing four further games in 2005–06 with the main squad; on 1 December 2005 he appeared 18 minutes in the Andalusians' 3–1 victory over Vitória de Guimarães also at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium,[7] in an eventual victorious campaign in the UEFA Cup.

Capel with Sevilla in 2010

Capel became first-choice in the 2007–08 season due to the death of another left-footed winger, Antonio Puerta, in late August. He scored his first goal in La Liga on 9 February 2008, in a 1–1 home draw with Barcelona.[8] The previous month, he had netted in a Copa del Rey tie against the same opponent (also 1–1 and in Seville).[9]

In June 2008, Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur were linked with a £12.5 million bid for Capel. He admitted he would consider leaving Sevilla to "grow as a footballer", if the clubs could agree on a signing fee,[10] but nothing came of it. Also at the end of the league campaign, Barcelona-based daily Sport further speculated that Real Madrid were considering Capel as a potential replacement for the recently departed Robinho,[11] but no move ever materialised.

In the 2009–10 campaign, Capel lost his position to Argentine Diego Perotti,[12] but still managed to feature in 29 matches – one goal in a 5–1 win at Racing de Santander[13]– as Sevilla edged RCD Mallorca for the fourth position, with the subsequent qualification for the UEFA Champions League. Additionally, on 19 May 2010, he opened the score at the Camp Nou in a 2–0 defeat of Atlético in the final of the domestic cup.[14]

Capel appeared again regularly in 2010–11, playing 27 league games and starting in 17 as the team finished in fifth position.

Sporting CP

On 18 July 2011, Capel's uncle Carioca acknowledged negotiations between Sevilla and Sporting CP for the transfer of the player for €6 million and a five-year contract,[15] although the fee agreed was eventually €3.5 million with a €30 million buyout clause.[16] He made his debut for his new club on the 30th, playing the second half of a 0–3 friendly home loss to Valencia CF.

Capel scored his first goal for Sporting on 2 October 2011, in a 1–0 Primeira Liga away win over Vitória de Guimarães.[17] On the 24th, in the same competition, he netted twice in a 6–1 home rout of Gil Vicente F.C. in what was the Lions' ninth straight official win.[18]

On 19 April 2012, Capel scored his seventh competitive goal of the season, helping the hosts come from behind to win 2–1 against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-finals first leg.[19] He was part of the squad that won the Taça de Portugal in 2015, but his input consisted of the 5–0 victory at S.C. Espinho in the fourth round.[20]

Genoa and Anderlecht

On 18 August 2015, as his minutes at Sporting were dwindling dramatically,[21][22] Capel signed for Genoa CFC in Italy[23] for a reported fee of €1.3 million,[24] as the former retained 50% of his rights regarding any future transfer fee the latter received.[25] The following 4 August 2016 he switched countries again, signing a two-year deal with the option for a third at R.S.C. Anderlecht in the Belgian Pro League;[26] in the winter transfer window the former were looking to transfer him,[27] and he was eventually released in August 2017 having made 25 competitive appearances and scored two goals.[28]

In March 2018, Capel turned down an approach from EFL League Two club Notts County.[29]

Later career

On 4 August 2018, after more than a year without a club, Capel moved to Segunda División side Extremadura UD on a two-year contract.[30] He was joined there by his former Sevilla teammate José Antonio Reyes, who died in a car crash in June 2019;[31] the following month, he left the team from Almendralejo having played just 382 minutes.[32]

Capel moved abroad again in January 2020, to Birkirkara F.C. of the Maltese Premier League. He signed until the end of the season with the option of one more,[33] but left in March as the COVID-19 pandemic erupted.[34]

In February 2022, after nearly two years of inactivity, the 34-year-old Capel joined Super League Greece 2 club Irodotos FC.[35] On 24 October 2023, exactly 19 years after his professional debut, he announced his retirement.[36]

International career

After having helped Spain win the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship,[37] Capel played in the 2007 FIFA World Cup with the under-20 team, scoring in injury time in the first game against Uruguay for the final 2–2.[38] He helped the country progress to the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by the Czech Republic, and subsequently moved to the under-21s.[39]

Capel made his debut for the senior side on 20 August 2008, playing the second half of a friendly with Denmark and setting up two goals in the 3–0 away win.[40]

Career statistics

[41][42]

Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sevilla Atlético 2004–05 Segunda División B 19 1 — — — 2[c] 0 21 1
2005–06 Segunda División B 30 0 — — — 4[c] 0 34 0
2006–07 Segunda División B 35 6 — — — 3[c] 1 38 7
Total 84 7 — — — 9 1 93 8
Sevilla 2004–05 La Liga 3 0 0 0 — — — 3 0
2005–06 La Liga 4 0 0 0 — 1[d] 0 — 5 0
2006–07 La Liga 0 0 0 0 — 1[d] 0 — 1 0
2007–08 La Liga 31 3 3 1 — 8[e] 0 1[f] 0 43 4
2008–09 La Liga 32 2 6 0 — 3[d] 1 — 41 3
2009–10 La Liga 29 1 7 3 — 6[e] 0 — 42 4
2010–11 La Liga 27 0 4 1 — 6[g] 0 1[h] 0 38 1
Total 126 6 20 5 — 25 1 2 0 173 12
Sporting CP 2011–12 Primeira Liga 26 4 7 1 3 1 13[i] 1 — 49 7
2012–13 Primeira Liga 26 5 1 0 2 0 7[i] 0 — 36 5
2013–14 Primeira Liga 26 1 2 2 3 0 — — 31 3
2014–15 Primeira Liga 21 0 1 1 0 0 4[e] 0 — 26 1
Total 99 10 11 4 8 1 24 1 — 142 16
Genoa 2015–16 Serie A 21 0 0 0 — — — 21 0
Anderlecht 2016–17 Belgian Pro League 15 1 2 0 — 8[i] 1 — 25 2
Extremadura 2018–19 Segunda División 14 0 1 0 — — — 15 0
Birkirkara 2019–20 Maltese Premier League 2 1 1 0 — — — 3 1
Irodotos 2021–22 Super League Greece 2 11 0 0 0 — — — 11 0
Career total 372 25 35 9 8 1 57 3 11 1 483 39
  1. ^ Includes Copa del Rey, Taça de Portugal, Belgian Cup, Maltese FA Trophy
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
  4. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  5. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Super Cup
  7. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
  8. ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España
  9. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Sevilla

Sporting CP

Anderlecht

Spain U19

Spain U21

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Capel" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Entrevista a Diego Capel: "Sería un sueño terminar mi carrera en el Almería"" [Interview with Diego Capel: "It would be a dream to finish my career in Almería"] (in Spanish). La Triangulación. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  3. ^ Martín, Pedro (25 October 2004). "Capel debutó en Primera con 16 años" [Capel made Primera debut at 16]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. ^ "El sevillista Diego Capel está en la órbita del Barça" [Sevilla man Diego Capel is in the orbit of Barça]. Sport (in Spanish). 28 February 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. ^ "El gol del nostálgico de Albox" [Albox's nostalgic goal]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 11 January 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  6. ^ Llamas, Fernando (24 October 2004). "El Sevilla confirma su potencial y condena al Atlético" [Sevilla confirm their potential and condemn Atlético]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  7. ^ "El Sevilla sentencia ante el Vitoria de Guimaraes su pase a dieciseisavos" [Sevilla seal qualification to last 32 against Vitoria de Guimaraes]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 1 December 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Barcelona bid held up by Sevilla". UEFA. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  9. ^ "Capel keeps Sevilla dream alive". UEFA. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  10. ^ Bright, Richard (17 July 2008). "Diego Capel could still move to Tottenham". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
  11. ^ Leong, KS (23 August 2008). "Capel favourite to replace Robinho?". Goal. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Capel sobre Perotti: "Va a haber muchos partidos y podremos repatirlos" (ver video)" [Capel on Perotti: "There will be many games and we can share them" (watch video)] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 3 August 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  13. ^ Aldunate, Ramiro (5 May 2010). "Una mano al cuello" [Hand to throat]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Cup glory for Sevilla". ESPN Soccernet. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  15. ^ Mira, Luís (18 July 2011). "Diego Capel's uncle confirms midfielder is set to sign for Sporting Lisbon". Goal. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  16. ^ "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  17. ^ Kundert, Tom (2 October 2011). "Capel fires Sporting to victory in Guimaraes as Braga are surprised by Leiria". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  18. ^ Cole, Richard (24 October 2011). "Dazzling Sporting hit Gil for six". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  19. ^ Hunter, Graham (19 April 2012). "Capel caps Sporting comeback against Athletic". UEFA. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  20. ^ "Sporting goleia Sporting de Espinho e apura-se para "oitavos" da Taça de Portugal" [Sporting thrash Sporting de Espinho and reach "last-16" in Portuguese Cup] (in Portuguese). TSF. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  21. ^ Gomes, Rui (25 February 2014). "A menor preponderância de Diego Capel" [Diego Capel's lesser importance] (in Portuguese). Camarote Leonino. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  22. ^ "Swansea atento à situação de Diego Capel" [Swansea keeping an eye on situation of Diego Capel]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Colpo Genoa, fatta per Diego Capel" [Genoa strike, Diego Capel deal done] (in Italian). Genoa C.F.C. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  24. ^ Lopes Gomes, Leonel (18 August 2015). "Sporting confirma saída de Diego Capel para o Génova" [Sporting confirm departure of Diego Capel to Genoa]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  25. ^ "Sporting oficializa Capel no Génova" [Sporting make Capel official at Genoa] (in Portuguese). TSF. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  26. ^ Sánchez, Guillermo (4 August 2016). "Diego Capel firma dos años con el Anderlecht" [Diego Capel signs for two years at Anderlecht]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  27. ^ "El Anderlecht busca equipo para Diego Capel" [Anderlecht look for team for Diego Capel]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 27 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  28. ^ "Hoy se cierra mi etapa en el RSC Anderlecht. Es hora de buscar nuevos retos. Gracias por todo. Gracias afición" [Today my spell at RSC Anderlecht comes to an end. It's time to look for new challenges. Thanks for everything. Thanks fans.] (in Spanish). Twitter. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  29. ^ Curtis, Leigh (5 March 2018). "Kevin Nolan says Notts County offer to Diego Capel 'nowhere near' £15,000 a week". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  30. ^ "Oficial: el Extremadura sorprende y ficha a Diego Capel" [Official: Extremadura surprise and sign Diego Capel]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 4 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  31. ^ Liaño, Nacho (5 June 2019). "La dedicatoria de Capel a Reyes: "Ganamos por ti, hermano"" [Capel's dedication to Reyes: "We won for you, brother"]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  32. ^ Galeano, Paco (12 July 2019). "Diego Capel deja el Extremadura" [Diego Capel leaves Extremadura]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  33. ^ Lia, Gianluca (28 January 2020). "Former Sevilla winger Capel joins Birkirkara". Times of Malta. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  34. ^ Reinoso del Real, Mario (15 October 2020). "¿Qué fue de Diego Capel?" [What happened to Diego Capel?]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  35. ^ "SUPER LEAGUE 2: Έσκασε η "βόμβα": Και επίσημα στον Ηρόδοτο ο Καπέλ!" [SUPER LEAGUE 2: The "bomb" has gone off: Capel confirmed at Irodotos!] (in Greek). Sport FM. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  36. ^ Rodríguez, Ángel (24 October 2023). "Diego Capel anuncia su retirada" [Diego Capel announces his retirement]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  37. ^ a b Haslam, Andrew (29 July 2006). "Bueno double gives Spain glory". UEFA. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  38. ^ "Capel comes to Spain's rescue". UEFA. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  39. ^ "Norway hit back to hold Spain". UEFA. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  40. ^ Piña, Raúl (21 August 2008). "España mantiene la inercia de la Eurocopa" [Spain maintain Eurocup momentum]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  41. ^ "Capel: Diego Capel Trinidad". BDFutbol. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h "Capel". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  43. ^ Dias, Bruno Miguel (23 November 2011). "Capel feliz pelo prémio do jogador do mês de Outubro" [Capel happy with October Player of the Month award] (in Portuguese). SAPO. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

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